Mohun Bagan have again come under the FIFA axe, with the world soccer governing body directing the Kolkata giants to cough up US $ 6,500, which is due to Liberian striker George Ekeh, who turned out for the club last year.
Following the footsteps of Nigerian Isah Musah Eroje, Ekeh had lodged a complaint with FIFA in May about the non-payment of his dues by the club.
"The Player Status Committee of FIFA has accepted his complaint and ordered us to pay the amount (equivalent to about Rs 350,000). The All India Football Federation has forwarded us the letter from FIFA. We received it on Tuesday," Bagan assistant general secretary Balaram Chowdhury said.
Chowdhury said that committee will again hear the case at its next meeting.
FIFA's action against Bagan comes close on the heels of the governing body fining the outfit Rs 529,000 and also imposing a ban on recruiting foreign players till March next year following a similar complaint from Eroje.
Bagan has already paid the fine which was the amount due to the Nigerian, and requested FIFA to withdraw the ban.
Chowdhury, however, was optimistic that the dispute with Ekeh could be resolved mutually.
"I've already spoken to the player who has promised to settle the issue amicably," he said.
The latest FIFA order comes at an inopportune moment for the club, which had started negotiations with Michael Chopra and Bikash Dhorasoo, the best-known Indian-origin football names in Europe, for its National Football League engagements.
Asked if the latest controversy over Ekeh could stall Bagan's move to recruit the duo, Chowdhury said: "I don't think so. We are quite optimistic that the ban will be lifted from October 15."
